CARE Internship 2027–2028: Programs, Deadlines & How to Apply

Last updated: November 2026

CARE USA's spring 2027 internships are open now. On November 12, 2026, its own internship board listed four US roles, two at the Atlanta headquarters and two in Washington, DC, and every one is unpaid: CARE says each is "for academic credit or volunteering and not for pay." CARE posts interns three times a year, not once: spring roles in November and December, summer roles in April and May, and fall roles in August and September. In plain words: if you can start in January 2027, apply now; if you're aiming for summer 2027, expect postings in April and May 2027.

Quick Facts

The row that matters most: spring 2027 roles are live with no stated deadline, and every CARE internship is unpaid.

Externships are short, remote programs where you finish a real project for a real organization, most often in 8 weeks at 5 to 10 hours a week. The Juvenile Justice Policy Analyst Externship with CIYJ builds the policy research and writing CARE's briefs and talking points call for, and Health Research & Data Analytics with ARCeH builds the data skills behind its program learning studies. Explore all Externships.

What Is a CARE Internship?

A CARE internship is an unpaid, for-credit placement with CARE USA, the international humanitarian organization that runs care.org and is part of the CARE International confederation. That's worth saying because "care internship" searches also turn up CareFirst, CareSource, L.A. Care and hospital programs, which are different employers. CARE places interns "at CARE USA Headquarters in Atlanta or in US field offices" and describes the work as closely monitored, project-driven experience on CARE projects and initiatives, with orientations on CARE's history and programs. The organization says it has operations in over 100 countries and over 75 years of experience, starting with the first CARE Package after World War II. CARE publishes no class size or conversion rate.

When Do CARE Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?

CARE's internship board states its own calendar: fall semester interns are posted in August and September, spring semester interns in November and December, and summer interns in April and May. The spring 2027 wave fits that pattern: four roles were live on November 12, 2026, and the Government Relations role starts January 12, 2027, about 2 months after posting. Archived copies of the same board show five US intern roles in March 2024 and five in September 2024, but none in late June 2025, so summer waves can be small. We expect summer 2027 postings in April to May 2027 and fall 2027 postings in August to September 2027, based on CARE's stated periods.

How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.

Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open

CARE's internships are effectively rolling, with no stated cutoff. None of the four spring 2027 postings shows an application deadline, and CARE posts roles one project at a time, so a role can be filled and removed without notice. The spring roles also start soon: the Government Relations term begins January 12, 2027, which leaves little time between posting and start. CARE contacts only successful applicants and treats 60 days of silence as a no, so applying early also gives you time to try the next posting period if this one doesn't work out.

Which CARE Internship Programs Should You Target?

CARE runs one US internship program and posts each role separately. The table shows the four spring 2027 postings we read on November 12, 2026, plus the overseas track.

Past cycles had different teams: the 2024 postings included marketing, corporate sustainability, digital finance, education and gender-based violence roles, mostly in Atlanta. Read the CARE internship board in each posting period, since the roles change every time.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

These come from CARE's internship board and the four spring 2027 postings, read on November 12, 2026.

• Age: at least 18.

• Enrollment: enrolled in a relevant undergraduate program (juniors and seniors preferred), a graduate or post-graduate program, or graduated within six months of the posting date.

• Work authorization: interns on student visas must get work authorization from their school.

• Funding and credit: if you receive funding or academic credit, CARE asks you to state on the application which costs you can cover.

• Language: English for all four roles; the Farmer Field and Business School role also asks for French.

• GPA: not stated on the board or the postings.

How Do You Make an Unpaid CARE Internship Work?

Plan the money before you apply. CARE says plainly that its internships are for academic credit or volunteering and not for pay, so check whether your school gives credit or funds unpaid nonprofit internships, and look at part-time hours: the Government Relations role is 20 hours a week, which leaves room for other work. The overseas track is stricter: it's open only to graduate students who bring funding from a school or another agency.

What Skills Does CARE Look For, and How Do You Build Them?

The four spring 2027 postings are a small sample, so read the chart as a picture of this wave, not a rule. Writing comes first: three of four ask for briefs or summaries, from "Drafted briefs summarizing the impacts of social norms programs" to "Policy Briefs and Legislative Summaries." Research and desk review show up just as often. The DC roles add advocacy communication ("Draft talking points, one-pagers, and backgrounders") and event planning around CARE on Capitol Hill. The Farmer Field and Business School role is the most technical, asking for data collection tools, data analysis and visualization, and focus groups.

How Is Demand for Policy Interns Moving Right Now?

Build These Skills Before You Apply

Each skill below comes from the spring 2027 postings and maps to a remote Externship you can finish before a CARE posting period.

No open Externship covers international development or Congressional work directly. These cover the writing, data and strategy side of the roles.

What Is the CARE Application and Interview Process Like?

CARE describes a simple online process and publishes no interview stages.

1. Find the board. Go to care.org/careers and choose "Search for Internships" to reach the CARE USA Internships & Fellowships board.

2. Filter to US roles. Set Position Category to Domestic or Region to United States, then open each posting and read its deliverables.

3. Apply on the posting. Use Apply Now on the role you want. If you have credit or funding, say which costs you can cover.

4. Wait up to 60 days. CARE contacts only successful applicants and asks for no phone calls. No contact within 60 days means the application wasn't successful.

5. Interview. CARE doesn't publish its interview format, number of rounds or decision dates.

For the overseas track, the board asks for a resume or CV with three references, a cover letter on your program and research interests, and a writing sample for writing-heavy roles.

What Students on Reddit Say

We searched Reddit and found no threads about CARE USA internships: "care" is a common word, and the results were about other employers. So there are no cards here, and nothing on this page rests on community posts.

How Do You Stand Out for a CARE Internship?

First, apply to the project, not the organization. Each posting lists its deliverables, such as briefs, data collection tools or briefing books for guests, so send a writing sample or research output that matches. Second, sort out credit or funding first and say so on the application, since CARE asks what costs you can cover. Third, watch all three posting periods: roles are posted per project, so a team that isn't hiring in spring may post in fall. CARE publishes no applicant count, class size or conversion rate, so there's no figure to benchmark against.

What Other Companies Should You Consider?

If you're targeting humanitarian and international nonprofits, these organizations also take interns:

Our nonprofit and social impact internships guide compares more organizations and their summer 2027 windows.

FAQ

Can I still apply for a summer 2026 CARE internship?

No. Summer 2026 is over, but CARE's spring 2027 roles are open now: four US internships were live on November 12, 2026, in Atlanta and Washington, DC. If you want summer 2027 instead, CARE says summer interns are posted in April and May, so expect those roles in April to May 2027.

Are CARE internships paid?

No. All four spring 2027 postings read "Intern-No Pay" and say the internship is for academic credit or volunteering and not for pay. No stipend or housing is mentioned. CARE asks applicants who receive funding or academic credit to state on the application which costs they can cover.

When does CARE post internships?

Three times a year. CARE's internship board says fall semester interns are posted in August and September, spring semester interns in November and December, and summer interns in April and May. Roles are posted per project, so the number and teams change from one period to the next.

Is there a deadline for CARE internships?

No deadline is stated. The Application Deadline field is blank on all four spring 2027 postings, so roles stay up until they're filled and can come down without notice. CARE contacts only successful applicants, and if you hear nothing within 60 days, consider the application unsuccessful.

Who can apply for a CARE internship?

You must be at least 18 and enrolled in a relevant undergraduate program, where juniors and seniors are preferred, or a graduate or post-graduate program. Graduates within six months of the posting date also qualify. Student-visa holders need work authorization from their school. No GPA minimum is stated.

Where are CARE internships located?

At CARE USA's headquarters in Atlanta and in Washington, DC for the spring 2027 roles. The two Atlanta roles list Washington, DC as another possible location, and travel isn't part of any of the four. CARE also runs an overseas track in country offices, but only for self-funded graduate students.

How long is a CARE internship?

It follows the semester. The Government Relations role runs January 12 to June 20, 2027, at 20 hours a week. The other three spring 2027 postings don't state a term or weekly hours, so check each posting. CARE doesn't publish summer or fall dates before those roles are posted.

What skills does CARE look for in interns?

Writing and research first. Three of the four spring 2027 postings ask for briefs, summaries or evidence reviews, and the DC roles add talking points and event planning for CARE on Capitol Hill. The Farmer Field and Business School role asks for data collection tools, data analysis and visualization, focus groups, and French.

CARE's spring 2027 roles are live now, and the summer wave is expected in April to May 2027. A remote Externship gives you a finished policy or data project to show when you apply.